Thomas Hartley Cromek (1809-1873) The Terrace of the Villa Muti

Thomas Hartley Cromek (1809-1873)

The Terrace of the Villa Muti, Frascati, Italy

Inscribed verso From Thos H. Cromek/to Capt Cheney/Villa Muti Frascati/3 June 1832 and on part of former mount: Terrace of the Villa Muti at Frascati given to me by T.H. Cromek/1832

Watercolour over pencil

14.2 by 22.6 cm., 5 ½ by 8 ¾ in.

Provenance:

Given by the artist to Captain Cheney of Badger Hall, Shropshire, 1832

The Villa Muti was acquired by the Muti family in the 19th century. The villa was used as a country residence by Henry Stuart (1725-1807), the final Jacobite heir to claim the throne of England and Scotland, who lived in exile in Rome. By 1830, the villa was being rented by the keen amateur artist Robert Henry Cheney (1801-1866) who was a friend and pupil of Cromek.